Panic-bolt mechanism.



N. B. HURD. PANLC BOLT MECHANISNI. APPLICATION FILED JAN. i3, i915.

LMQQ, l PamtedJuly 6,1915.

N11 AF NT l.

NORMAN B. HURD, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT. ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE AMERICAN CONNECTICUT.

IPANIC-BOLT MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.,

Application mea January 13, 1915. serial No. 1,901.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, NORMAN B. Hmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Panic-Bolt Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

This invention relates to an improved panic bolt mechanism of thetype wherein top and bottom bolts are actuated through a manually operated member inside the door, such as the usual cross bar.

The present invention aims to provide in a device of this general character, means constituting a latch for the door and a lock to hold the latch controlling means in door opened position while the door remains open.

These and other features are fully described in the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and illustrating a preferable embodiment of the invention in a panic bolt mechanism.

In these drawings,-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a door showing the panic bolt mechanism in elevation and in door locked position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the panic bolt mechanism in door unlatched position, with the door partially open. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the combined latch and bolt. Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the compensating bolt head and its socket.

1n the drawings, 1 designates a door, 2 the top of the door casing, and 3 the Hoor which constitutes the bottom of the door casing. A plate 4 is sunk in the floor and is provided with a socket 5 therein positioned to receive and act as a locking abutment for the lower bolt member of the panic bolt mechanism. An upper locking abutment is provided in the form of a bracket plate 6 secured tothe top casing 2 and having a downwardly projecting stop abutment 7.

8 designates an operating bar for controlling the latch, said bar extending substantially vertically of the door, thelower end of this bar `acting as a lower latch bolt member, and in thevdropped or lower position of the bar, being positioned below the floor in socket abutment 5. Intermediate the ends of this bar, an enlargement 9 is provided,` said enlargement having a slot 10 extending therethrough in the direction of the door, the inner faces of the slot being formed'to provide an opposed pair of divergent abutment faces 11.

Adjacent the lower edge of the door a guide bracket 12 is provided, through which extends the lower end of the bar 8. The upper end of this bar is formed with an annular offset or head 13, which extends above a second guide 14, whose bracket plate 14a is secured to the door in a suitable manner. The upper edge of this guide 141 acts as a stop for the under face of the offset 13. The weight of the bar, by gravity, moves it downwardly so that the lower bolt head is positioned in the socket 5 of the floor plate. The bracket plate 14a at opposite sides of the guide 14 is recessed as indicated in dotted lines at 15, Figs. 1 and 2. At the opposite sides of the guide 111 are pivotally mounted the lower ends of a combined door and bar latch. This latch is composed of inverted Leshaped arms 20 having their lower ends pivotally mounted at the opposite sides of the guide 14 and having their bases extending away from the door. The forward ends of these bases are spanned and joined by an integral bar 21 forming a latch bar for coperation with the abutment 7 to lock the door closed. v

The inner and adjacent faces of the arms 20 at diametrically opposite points intermediate their ends, are provided with latching lugs 22 having their inner faces formed on a curve substantially coincident with the curve of the annular offset 13, so that this offset 13, as indicated in dotted lines in F ig. 3, may move vertically upward between the arms 2O and between the latch bar 21 and the latching lugs 22, the latter resting thereagainst in door latched position. These lugs 22 serve a two-fold purpose. They coperate with the head 13 to hold the door locked in the normal position of the bar 8, and engage under the head 13 in the abnormal or raised position of the head to lock it in such position temporarily.

The arms 20, with their latch bar 21, normally tend, by gravity, to drop outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2, the latch lformied thereby being of the gravity type. The slots 15 in the bracket plate 14 afford clearance for the pivoted lower ends tion.

of these arms 20 during swinging movement thereof, the bracket plate itself acting as a `stop for the gravity latch and taking the Vweight of support of the bar 8, as will be latch from its gravity actuated position,

(Fig. 2) back to door closed position (F ig. l).

The operation of this device, therefore, will be seen to be as follows: Assuming the door is in closed position, as seen in Fig. 1, it will be noted that thebar 8 has dropped to bring the lower latch down into its socket 5, and to position the offset13 in rear of the latching lugs 22, thereby serving to hold the gravity latch in raised position so that its bar 21 extends in rearof the stop abutment 7 locking the door closed at its' upper end and forming the upper latch of the panic bolt. Under these conditions, manually operable means are provided for moving the bar 8 upwardly, so that the lower edge of the offset 13 clearsthe upper edge of the lugs 22. permitting the gravity latch 20-21 to fall outwardly from the door or from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the latching bar 21 clearing the abutment stop 7 and permitting the door to be nowmoved outwardly' or to open posi- @ne form of manually operable means which may be employed, is as follows: A bracket plate 16 is secured to the faceof the door Vadjacent the enlargement 9 of the bar 8. This plate 16 has an outwardly offset plate 17 to which is journaled one inwardly bent end of the usual cross y bar 18, the opposite end of the cross bar (not shown) beingsimilarly mounted upon aseoond and similar bracket (not shown) as usual.y The end of the cross bar carried by the plate 17 has an extension or foot 19 eX- tending within the slot 10 of the bar enlargement 9, as indicated in 'dotted lines in Fig. 1, the weight of the bar normally 'acting against the upper abutment surface 11 and in va direction to move the bar S to latch retracting position, the weight of the bar,

however, being sufficient to maintain the same by gravity in dropped or door latch projected position. In the event of panic or other necessity, pressure against 'the cross bar 18 will lift bar 8 upwardly, raising the lower bolt out of its socket -5 and bringing head `13 above the lugs 22, so that the gravity latch 20;21 may dropuntil its bar `21 clearsupper abutment 7, thereby permitting the door to be 'moved to lopen position. When pressure against the cross bar 18 is removed, the bar 8 will drop by gravity until the under face of its offset 13 rests upon the upper edges of the lugs 22 as suggested in Fig. 2. The gravity latch 20-21 will be supported in its dropped position by the engagement of its lower pivoted ends with the bracket plate 1li, so that said plate will take and support the weight of the bar 8 and will retain the bar in door unlatched position as long as the door remains open. When the door closes, however, the laterally offset fingers 23 will engage the abutment pins 24, which, as the door closes, will move the gravity latch forwardly toward the door, swinging the latch bar 21 forwardly and to the rear of the upper stop abutment 7 (or from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1), the lugs 22 being moved clear of the under face of the head of the offset 13, thereby permitting the bar 8 to drop. in the position shown in Fig. 1, the offset 13 engaging the lugs 22 as suggested in Fig. 3, and maintaining the latch bar 21 in door latching position until the bar is again raised by the manually controlled means heretofore described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic latching means for the operating bar which will hold the bar in bolt operated door open position as long as the door remains open, and which is automatically operated to release the bar when the door closes, this means also acting as a latch for locking the door closed when operated as last described.

While I have described a specific form of this device, it will be understood that variation'is possible both in structure and in relative arrangement of parts.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a compensating bolt head. In the present embodiment this constitutes the lower bolt. It is very desirable vto use a stop or abutment for the lower bolt which is vflush with or below the floor, although my improved bolt head is not so limited in scope of use. Then socket plates, such as 4, Figs. 1 and 4, are used, there is always the probability that they will, to some extent at least, become filled with refuse of various sorts so as to prevent the full entry of the bolt head. In such event the upper and lower bolts may not drop to fully or even partiallyk latched position and the bolt mechanism therefore fails in its purpose. I avoid such a con dition by making the head of the bolt yielding to compensate. Gne form that such a bolt head may take is shown in the drawings wherein the lower end of the hollow bar S terminates above the floor and is provided with opposed elongated slots 24 therein. A cupped bolt vhead 25 slidably fits over the lower end of the "rod S this head being 'of slightly less diameter than that of socket 5 and carrying a pin 26 extending through the opposed slots 24 of the bar 8 to limit the movement of this bolt head relative to the bar. The lower end of the bar is closed, as by a Washer 27, and a coiled spring 28 Within the head bears against this Washer and acts against the head to distend it to the position shown in Figs. l and 4f. lf however there is an obstruction or partial iilling in socket 5 this head 25 ivill yield against the tension of its spring and move upwardly on and relative to bar 8, the upper end of slot 24 limiting this movement. With such a compensating device, the panic bolt mechanism may move to normal door locked position. Even though the lovver ,bolt may not lock because of an obstruction in its socket there is nothing to prevent movement of the parts to place the other and in this case) upper bolt in fully locked position.

What I claim is:

l. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch Withdrawing direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door and a combined door and bar latching means movable relatively to said door and coperating With said abutment and said bar, respectively, to lock the door closed and to latch said bar in door open position, respectively.

2. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch Withdrawing direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door, and a combined door and bar latching means movable relatively to said door and coperating with said abutment and said bar, to lock the door closed and to latch said bar in door open position, and With other abutment means stationary relative to the door and coperating with said latching means when the door is closed, whereby said latching means is moved to release said bar and to latch said door closed.

3. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch Withdraiving direction, an abutment stationary relatively to the door, and combined door and bar latching means carried by and movable relatively to the door and coperating with said abutment and said bar, respectively, to automatically lock the door closed and to automatically latch said bar in manually moved position, respectively.

4. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch Withdravving direction, an abutment stationary relatively to the door, and combinedV door and bar latching means carried by and movable relatively to the door and coperating with `said abutment and said bar, respectively, to automatically lock the door closed and to automatically latch said bar in manually moved position, respectively, there being other stationary abutment means co` operating with said latching means when the door reaches closed position, whereby said means is automatically moved to release said bar and to cooperate with said first abutment to lock the door closed.

5. A panic bolt mechanism Yfor doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch WithdraWing direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door, and a combined door and bar latching means carried by the door and movable relatively thereto and to said bar, said means engaging with said abutment and coperating With said bar to lock the door closed, and being movable to release said abutment and latch said bar when the latter is moved andthe door is moved toward open position.

6. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling` bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in latch Withdrawing direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door, and a combined door and bar latching means carried by the door and movable relatively thereto and to said bar said means engaging with said abut-V ment and coperating With said bar to lock the door closed and being movable to release said abutment and latch said bar when the latter is moved and the door is moved to Ward open position, and with other stationary abutment means coperating with said latching means when the door is again closed to move said means to release said bar and to engage said first abutment to again lock the door,

7. A panic bolt mechanism ior doors, in cluding a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means-for moving said bar in latch Withdrawing direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door, a combined door and bar latching member carried by the door independently of said bar and movable relative to `said door and bar, said member, when in one position, engaging with said abutment and said bar to lock said door closed and being movable by gravity into a second position when said bar is manually moved, opened to release said abutment and engage and hold said bar in latch Withdrawn position, With another stationary abutment member cooperating' with said latching member When the door is closed to ign.

' said -first abutment to again lock the door closed.

8. A. panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a latch bolt and a latch controlling bar carried by the door and having an offset thereon, manually operable means for movingsaid bar in latch withdrawing direction,

'an abutment stationary relatively to the door, a combined door and bar latching member hingedly carried by the door independently of the bar and movable relative thereto, said member having a stop abutment thereon and being operative, in one position thereof, to engage with said stationary abutment to lock the door closed, said ol'sety engaging said stop abutment and holding said latching member in such position, said member, when said bar is manually moved to latch withdrawing position and the door opened, moving by gravity to release said abutment and to engage its stop abutment with saidj otfset and hold said bar in manually moved latch` withdrawn position, and with a second stationary abutment positioned to engage and move said latching member, when the door is again closed, to release said bar and to again engage said first abutment.

9. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in one direction, an abutment stationary relative to the door, and a combined door and bar latching means carried by and movable relatively to said door and'coperating, in diilierent .positions thereof, with said abutment and said bar, respectively, to lock the door closed and to latch said par in door open position, respectively.

l0. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, including a bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in one direction, an abutment stationaryrelative to the door, and a combined door and bar latching means carried by and movable relatively tosaid door and coperating, in different positions thereof, with said abutment and said bar, respectively, to lock. the door closed and to latch said bar in door open position, respectively, and with other abutment means stationary relative to the door and coperating with said latching means when the door is closed, whereby said latching means is moved to release said bar and to latch said door closed.

l1. A panic bolt mechanism for doors, in-

cluding a latch controlling bar carried by the door, manually operable means for moving said bar in one direction, an abutment stationary relatively to the door, and combined door and bar latching means carried by and movable relatively to the door and Coperating with said abutment and said bar, respectively, to automatically lock the door closed and to automatically latch said bar in door open position, respectively,there being other abutment means coperating with said latching means, when the door reaches closed position, whereby said means is automatically moved to release said bar and to coperate with said first abutment to lock the door closed.

12. In a door bolt mechanism, a latch receiving abutment face arranged to be carried by a door casing, a swinging latch arranged to be carried by a door and to engage said abutment face, said latch being permitted to assume an unlocking position when unrestrained, another abutment face also arranged to be carried by the door casing to engage said latch to move it to the locking position when the door is closed, a manually operable means arranged to be carried by the door to hold said latch in the locking position when said door is closed and when said means is in one position, said latch being unrestrained and free to move when said means is in another position.

13. In a door bolt mechanism, a latch receiving abutment face arranged to be carried by a door casing, a swinging latch arranged to be carried by a door and to engage said abutment face, said latch being permitted to assume an unlocking position when unrestrained, another abutment face also arranged to be carried by the door casing to engage said latch to move it to the locking position when the door is closed, a manually operable means arranged to be carried by the door to hold said latch in the locking position when said door is closed and when said means is in one position, said latch being unrestrained and free to move when said means is in another position, said means comprising a bar with brackets for carrying said bar on a door, one end of said bar having a telescopic spring-projected bolt head slidable on the bar and supported thereby.

NORMAN B. HURD. Witnesses:

F. Y. SEARS,

Ro. E. ELLIOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,145,590, granted July 6, 1915,

upon the application of Norman B. Hurd, of New Britain, Connecticut, for en improvement in Panic-Bolt Mechanism, an error appears in the printed speciication requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 8, before the Word "speced insert the words the abutment means formed by; and that the seid Letters Patent should he reed with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cese in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of July, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

